Philips Forms Partnership for Net-Zero Healthcare
Koninklijke Philips N.V.
At ECR 2023 and in the future, Philips is teaming up with the European Society of Radiology, Health Care Without Harm Europe, and other organisations to expedite research, cooperation, and learning focused on reducing carbon emissions in radiology.
Healthcare is responsible for over 4% of global CO2 emissions, making it the fifth largest "country" in terms of emissions. The 2022 Future Health Index report revealed that only 4% of healthcare leaders prioritised environmental sustainability in 2021, but this figure increased nearly sevenfold to 24% in just one year.
Healthcare systems, health technology companies, and other stakeholders have a responsibility to take action. While there is growing recognition of the need to prioritise sustainability, a more comprehensive understanding of radiology's impact on the environment is urgently needed to provide more equitable and sustainable care. Philips is committed to collaborating with public and private customers, peers, and leading organisations to reduce its environmental impact.
The European Society of Radiology (ESR) will collaborate with Health Care Without Harm to co-host a Sustainability Zone in Philips' Blue Level exposition area at ECR 2023. This interactive experience is meant to make people more aware of how radiology affects CO2 emissions worldwide and encourage them to take action by connecting people, projects, and resources all over the world.
Visitors will be invited to share and discuss their own sustainability efforts, challenges, and best practices, contributing to global research, collaboration, and education on decarbonising radiology. Philips will gather and disseminate this information to all participants who opt in, stimulating further ideation across the global radiology community.
“Healthcare depends on a healthy planet. Care providers and care technology companies have a responsibility to act,” says Robert Metzke, global head of sustainability at Philips. “We have been carbon neutral in operations since 2020 and continue to innovate and develop scalable solutions that enable our customers to reduce emissions and deliver more sustainable healthcare. Leaders in the field, like the European Society of Radiology and Healthcare Without Harm Europe, are also taking steps in the same direction. Together, we can help further encourage sustainable healthcare practices worldwide.”
“The Sustainability Zone fits well with this year’s ECR theme, ‘Cycle of Life’, intended to reflect the centrality of radiology to healthcare throughout life,” says Adrian Brady, ECR2023 Programme President. “Health leaders worldwide increasingly acknowledge that doing no harm should also include harm to nature, especially considering long-term population health and climate goals. I hope ECR members spare a moment to visit the zone and engage with peers about sustainable radiology.”
Solving the environmental issues in healthcare demands a collaborative approach. Philips and ESR have a wider reach and are respected in the field of radiology. Because of this, they are in a great position to connect radiology professionals with similar goals and drive progress with the help of many experts from across the healthcare industry.
“We’re excited to see Philips and ESR teaming up to make sustainable healthcare a priority at the clinical service level, and also very happy to participate in this important initiative,” said Will Clark, Executive Director of Health Care Without Harm Europe. “Radiology leaders and subject matter experts have a golden opportunity to come together to find more sustainable solutions within their community, and this initiative at ECR serves as an excellent catalyst for change.”
Source: Philips
Join Philips in person at the Blue Level at ECR, or virtually via the Philips interactive online radiology experience
